Did you know that as many as 1.2 million young Canadians struggle with mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression and addiction, yet only one in five receive the medical care they need?

Sunnybrook’s Family Navigation Project (FNP) helps bridge this gap by providing critical guidance and support to families as they seek care for their children. FNP’s trained navigators connect families of young people, 13 to 26 years old, in the Greater Toronto Area with timely treatment services in their local community.

RBC has been a long-time supporter of this vital project. In partnership with Sunnybrook, the RBC Race for the Kids has rallied 46,000 participants and raised over $12 million. With this support, FNP has helped young people from Halton to Durham find the mental health and addictions services they need to get better.

This year’s RBC Race for the Kids will take place on Saturday, September 14 at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto. Runners, walkers and families alike are invited to participate in either the 5K walk/run or the 10K run. Whether you register as an individual or form a team with your friends, each step taken is a step forward for youth mental health.